Unlike the aforementioned QBs, though, no one had to tell Morris, 29, about Lake Eola and Orange Blossom Trail when he joined the Preds at midseason. The former Jones High QB grew up in Orlando.

Morris, who joined Orlando at midseason, is one of three Preds who played high-school sports in the Sentinel's coverage area. Defensive lineman Mark Robinson and kicker Mark Lewis attended Lyman, although at different times.

"Coming from Orlando, we don't have any championships with any of our local teams,'' said Robinson, in his fifth season with the Preds. "It would be a big boost for the city, for our fans. I know my people and family and friends are ready to see one come home.''

Said Preds coach Rob Keefe: "I can only imagine, . . . but when you get to play for the team from your city, you give more effort.''

No matter where they came from, the Preds are ready to return to the ArenaBowl for the first time since Hamilton led them there in 2006. Only the area's longtime arena-league fans can remember when the Preds used to be an ArenaBowl staple, reaching the title game six times in a nine-year stretch (1992-2000).

"I can remember going to one or two games,'' Morris said. "I had attended a Preds game back in my youth days, back in the old Amway [Arena]. What was it called, TD Waterhouse [Centre]?

"It would be a blessing if I could lead this team to that stage.''

Morris, who threw for 2,191 yards, 47 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 64.9 percent of his regular-season passes, is in an AFL conference championship game for the third season in a row. He lost the past two seasons with the Jacksonville Sharks.

Morris threw for four touchdowns and rushed for four others last weekend as the Preds eliminated the Pittsburgh Power 56-48 in their playoff opener at UCF's CFE Arena.

"Bernard takes the pressure on his shoulders and goes with it,'' Keefe said. "He's not afraid.''

The other local Preds are not, either.

"It would mean everything,'' Lewis said of making the ArenaBowl in Orlando's black-and-red jersey. "It's one of my dreams. Hopefully it comes true.''

As practice broke up late last week, Morris, Lewis and Robinson engaged in a brief, but important, conversation. The subject was baby talk after Lewis' wife, Jill, gave birth to the couple's first child, a son named Blake, last Monday.

Morris and Robinson have experience in fatherhood.

As for the Preds, their players with the strongest area ties would like nothing better than to deliver the third ArenaBowl title in franchise history.